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Edin Dzeko scored twice - in the process breaking an all-time club record - as Roma beat Empoli 2-0 to gather a comfortable three points at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
Dzeko became the all-time leading goalscorer in a single season thanks to his brace, moving to 33 goals for the campaign in the competition. He started the day one goal adrift of three legendary Giallorossi hitmen - Francesco Totti, Rodolfo Volk and Pedro Manfredini - but leapfrogged all of them over 90 minutes, after two classic poacher's finishes.
It took just 12 minutes for Dzeko to get his side ahead, as he twisted his body into position to turn home Antonio Rudiger's near-post flick-on from a corner.
Then, after half-time, he was once again in the right place at the right time - turning home tidily after Mohamed Salah fed him the ball.
In truth the Giallorossi did not play with great fluidity for large parts of the contest, although they were never in real danger of suffering an upset once the game's first goal had gone in.
Salah had further chances to extend the lead, while Nainggolan and Paredes also peppered Lukasz Skorupski in the Empoli goal, but in the end the game finished 2-0.
Nevertheless, it was a comfortable and positive evening's work ahead of a huge next encounter - a shot at redemption in the Coppa Italia against Lazio.
Team selection
In the first game back after the international break, Spalletti was somewhat limited by the absences of Daniele De Rossi (injured) and Kevin Strootman (suspended). In their places he opted for Radja Nainggolan and Leandro Paredes, with the latter - along with Mario Rui - coming up against his old side.
Diego Perotti started in attack, in the other notable change from Spalletti's recent selections.
Key moments
FIRST HALF
10' - First opening for Roma. Dzeko heads over from Mario Rui's inswinging cross.
12' - GOAL! ROMA LEAD! The corner comes in from Paredes, and Dzeko improvises brilliantly to turn the ball home with his knee! An early lead for the Giallorossi! 1-0!
25' - Skorupski saves comfortably from Perotti's brave header. At the other end Szczesny holds well from a corner.
29' - Nearly another golazo from Paredes! He catches one sweetly from 25 yards, but Skorupski parries it away!
32' - El Kaddouri crashes a low drive into the side-netting. A warning shot...
33' - CLOSE! A flying counter-attack from Roma sees Salah cut inside and cross for Perotti - but his header is wide!
See more images in our dedicated match gallery.
SECOND HALF
47' - SAVE! Important stop from Szczesny, who just reacts in time to turn Marilungo's flick over the bar!
58' - GOAL! IT'S TWO! AND DZEKO AGAIN! Perotti's deep ball into the box is nudged back across goal by Salah ... and Dzeko is on hand to turn home clinically! 2-0!
70' - BAR! Grenier sends in the corner to the far post - Salah meets it well but his looping header comes off the bar!
77' - Totti nearly plays in Salah with a clever slide-rule pass - but Skorupski comes out quickly to gather.
Key match statistics
See more game statistics in our dedicated match centre.
Social media reaction
Roma reaction
“I'm happy we managed to play a normal game. Maybe our minds were partly on the next match but we did what we needed to do tonight. We got the three points and now we can look forward.”
- Edin Dzeko
What's next?
Now attention turns to a huge game for the Giallorossi - as they 'host' Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final. Roma are 2-0 down from the first leg, and so know they need a resounding performance if they are to progress to the final on Tuesday night.
There next Serie A game is in eight days - as Spalletti's squad travel to Bologna in a Sunday afternoon kick-off.
ROMA 2-0 EMPOLI
Goalscorers: Dzeko (12', 58')
Roma: Szczesny; Rudiger, Fazio (Jesus), Manolas; Mario Rui, Nainggolan, Paredes, Peres; Perotti (Grenier), Salah; Dzeko (Totti).
Empoli: Skorupski; Laurini, Veseli, Barba, Pasqual; Krunic, Buchel, Croce; El Kaddouri; Marilungo, Thiam
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